Separable fastener



P. A. ARONSON SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed June 14, 1925 ll ll ll gwwemtoz20 ing recess ber each .45 parallel with the tap and Patented May 29,1928.

' UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE.

7 PETER A. ARONSON, or narnenronr, CONNECTICUT, assreNon zro ,nooxmssras- TENER COMIEANY; or MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION or PENN-SYLVANLBI.

Application filed nine 14,

This invention relates to separable as-- teners of the slider controlledtype, and has for its objects to provide a novel construction ofinterlocking recesses and projections whereby to increase flexibilityand reduce friction; also to'enable such members to be made of flatstrip material; and more specifically to construct such members of flatstrip material bent so as to require a mini- 10 mum number per unit oflength of tape with improved holding power.

In the recess and projection type of interlocking members disclosedherein, flex'ibility is increased and friction decreased by causing oneto make a line 'or spot contact with the other, as distinguished from asurface to surface contact. This is attained by a novel interlockingmember having a. projection on one side and a projection receivon theopposite side, the sides ofthe projection and of the recessbeingrelatively' inclined so that in looking and unlocking, and when engaged,an edge or spot of one engages a surface of the other. This constructionis conducive to lateral'flexibility because the relative inclinationprovides the required facility of movement and prevents disengagement.When members of this type are subjected to transverse strain whenengaged, the' relative inclination tends to make one ride on the otherand thus cumulatively increase the holding power.

In the several forms of invention shown herein, for purposes ofillustration, the interlocking members are made from successivepieces-of cross section by being cut oil to the desired length, thenbent up after being stamped or perforated to provide a shell type ofmempressible jaws for clamping to a tape, anop positely disposed recessand projection, a.

bridging element connecting the spaced pairs of jaws, and slider guidingmeans forming a track onwhich the slider moves. The number ofinterlocking members per unit length of tape is may be varied by varyingthe length of t e bridging element. The invention in its broad aspects,however, is

shell type interlocking members.

It is important in this type of fastener that the locking members therelative swelling 0 ment the clamping force may wire of generallyflattened comprisingseparated pairs of comnot limited to be clamped se-SVEPARABLE FASTENER.

1923. Serial No. 645,223.

curely on the tape so as not to slip longitudinally or transversely andyet they must not be clamped so tightly as to out either the cord ortape. The corded edge of the tape is compressed or flattened by thecompression of the jaws which causes the cord to bulge on either side.In this invention by having each locking member held in place by twopairs of s aced' clamping jaws, the 'ta'pe'within the locking member andbetween these spaced jaws is effective in holding the; members securelyin position. With Isuch an arrangebe distributed between .the two vpa1rsof jaws requirin less clamping action in each pair whereby ikelihood ofcutting is, lessened, as well as the danger of the tape not lying flakReferring to the drawing: Figure 1 shows one embodiment of my inventionin a partiallyi closed fastener,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of one of-the locking members shown in Fig.1,

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33. of

6 is a developed plan view of the locking member shown in Fig. 2 beforebeing bent to the shape illustrated, 86

Fig. 7 is a transverse section illustrating one form of fastener whentransversely flexed, 1

Fig. 8 is a transverse section illustrating theco-operation betweenlocking members of the form shown in Fig. 3 when the fastener is flexed,

Fig. 9 is a top locking member of tion on atape,

. Fig. '10 is a tran verse s'ectio'nthrough a locking member similar tothe onesillust-rated in Fig. 7, and

Fig. 11 is a transverse section of another form of locking member, inwhich both the topkand bottom surfaces are rounded..'-

eferrin to the drawings, the stringers 10, prefera ly of woven tape, forexam is, have sewed thereto on opposite sides brai ed or twisted cords11 to form a beaded'edge to which are secured aplurality of locking ig.2 clamped in posimembers 12 alternately arranged on the tape and adaptedto be controlled by the slider 13. Each member 12 is formed from a pieceof flat wire or strip metal bent back on itself in a general U, hollowshell or rectangular shape providedwith locking portions comprising aninterlocking projection 14 stamped on one side and a recess 15 on theopposite side with which the adjacent locking members cooperate. Theprojection 14 and recess 15 are in substantial alignment and are set infrom the edges of the member 12. The flat wire blank from which thesemembers are formed has substantially paraland recesses 15 are relativelel longitudinal edges and jaws 16 and 17 formed by stamping out themetal occupied by a cross section of the corded tape of the stringer,spreading the jaws as shown in Fig. 6 in order to receive the edge ofthe tape, .and then clamping the jaws to the stringer by compression asshown in Fig. 9, for example. The jaws 16 and 17 are con nected by anintegral bridging element, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The corded edgeof the stringers is spaced from the locking members by the portions 16'and 17. The end portions of the jaw members are extended and bent to liealong the stringer, as

shown in Figs. 1,2 and 4, where these end portions 18 and 19 are bent inthe same direction to provide a track along which the slider travels.According to this invention the sides of the interlockin projections 14l y inclined, that is, one is inclined with respect to the other, topermit only an edge or spot of one to engage a surface of the other inlocking and unlocking and in lateral flexing. In the modificationsillustrated, for example, the sides of the projections 14 are inclinedand the sides of recesses 15 are substantially vertical or straight. InFigs. 3 and 5. the projection 14 is transversely elongated, flat andtapered while in Figs. 10 and 11 the projection 14 istransverselyrounded or substantially hemispherical. In some forms of the inventionthe recess 15 is substantially wider transversely than the projection 14as shown, for example, in. Figs. 3 and 5, while in other forms, shown inFigs. 1( and 11, the recess is not substantially wider transversely thanthe projection but is merely large enough to fit over the projection. Bymaking the recessessubstantially wider transversely than the projectionsthe projections can move easily inside the recesses when interlocked andflexed.

When the closed fastener is flexed transversely, as shown in Figs. 7 and8, an edge of the recess 15 slides or pivots on the surface of theprojection 14 of a cooperating member or vice versa. In locking andunlocking, as well as in lateral flexing, one interlocking portion makesonly a line or spot contact with the'other. Since'only relatively smallportions of the cooperating projections and recesses contact at anytime,

the friction between them is greatly reduced, flexibility is increased,and. ease in looking and unlocking is promoted. Against transversestrain when the interlocking members are engaged, the relativeinclination of engaging surfaces has another function. This I eratingmember, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

In Figs. 2 and 3 both the surfaces 20 and 21 around the projection andrecess are rounded transversely, one being concave and the other convex.In Figs. 4, 5 and 10 only one such surface 22 or 24 is rounded while theother surface 23 or 25 is substantially flat. In Fig. 11 both thesurfaces and 25 are transversely convexed to facilitate fiexure.

Among the advantages of this invention may be mentioned the novelconstruction of interlocking recesses and projections which reducesfriction and increases flexibility and .ease of locking and unlocking.Another advantage lies in the construction whereby the cooperatinglocking members rock on the surfaces surrounding the recesses andprojections instead of directly on the surfaces.

of the projections and recesses themselves.

Another advantage resides in the simplicity of construction whereby afastener member is stamped from a flat wire and bent to the desiredshape Without the previously necessary finishingoperations inasmuch asthe sides of 'the wire form the side faces of the jaw members. Thenumber of locking members per unit length of stringer may be varied bycontrolling the length of the bridging element. The use of spacedclamping jaws provides-a double grip on the. tape and lessens theliability of the locking member slipping along the tape and the spacebetween the pairs of clam-ping jaws provides a suitable location for abulge in the corded edge which is caused by the clamping action of thejaws and is helpful to retain the locking member in place; The formationof the jaws is accomplished with a minimum waste of material. Reducedfriction and longer life for the slider are some of the advantagesresulting from the increased metal track or slider guiding means formedby bending the ends of the locking strips to lie parallel with the tapeedge. With the double grip upon the tape less clamping acone or moreoverlapping flaps,-for;example,

as illustrated in Fig. of the patent to Sundback, -#1,432,219, dated"October 17 1922, to prevent granular or other'material,

from passingl'throughthe lockingmembers and leaking out of thecontainer, or whatever the fastener is applied to.

The invention is not limited-v to' the partic-.

ular 'modifications. herein shown and '-de-- scribed. Thenovel-.cooperatin 'recesses'and projections may 'beiemployed in*varl'ous types of other changes may also be made in; the details ofconstruction without-departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention, as defined in' the appended claims. ,I

I claim:

1. An interlocking member jfor-a separable fastener stringer composed offiatmaterial formed-with compressible jaws to engage a stringer, havingon one face an engaging projection and on the opposite face in a menttherewith a larger projection receiving recesspthe sides of therojecti'on and'recess being relatively inclined 2. A locking-member fora slide .t pe fastener comprising a strip of materia shaped to provide apair of clamping jaws and having a recess and projection one above theother in substantial alignment, said recess being transversely widerthan the projection an amount suflicient to permit the projection of asimilar locking member to rock transversely therein. 7

3. A sheet metal locking "member for a separable fastener comprisingclamping jaws for attachment to a tape, a projection on one side, wellin from the edges thereof,

an aligned recess on the op osite side of said member also spaced from te side edges and substantially wider transversel than said projection topermit rocking '0 the projec- -composed of .flat material 'ea'c tion ofa similar lockin member therein.

4. In a slide actuated fastener, cooperating interlocking memberscomposed of flat material each having a" projection on one side and aprojection receiving recess on the opposite side, the sides ofzeaehprojection and the recess withwhich; it cooperates being relativelyinclined a's'ubstantial amount sufiicient to cause an vedgoloi one toengage a surface of the other when interlocked.

5. A separable fastener'comprising a pair of; stringers having'interlocking members 7 provided with a projection on one side and arecess on the opposite side well in from the edges thereof, the sides ofeach projection and the out to provide ,clampin membersbeing providewith aligned-interinterlocking members. IVai'ions locking. portions oneoi which is inclinedand lglli clined recess with which-it cooperatesbeing relatively inclined to permit an edge of one 'to engage asurfaceof the other without separating when interlocked.

I 6. A separabl fastener comprising a airof stringers having"interlocking mom ers composed of-fiat material each provided on one sidewith aprpjection and on the opposite side with a' largeraprojectionreceiving recess, the sides. ofsai projection' andrecessbeing'non-parallel to provide a line .or

spot contact-betweenthe'projection ,and a cooperating recess'whenbrought together. ,7. separable fastener comprising a air of striners havin'g' interlocking mem rs composed of flat material with-aportion out jaws,-ea'ch oi said the other-of which substantiallystraight for rocking engagement with cooperating in- 8. In a; separablefastener, a pair. of strin e rslbaving. interlocking members com of flatmaterial with a portion cut out to provide "clampin' (jaws, each of saidmembers being jprovidi 'with a substantially straightinterlockingportion and another aligned interlocking portion which is in-' isufiicientl to cause it to pivot'on an edge ,of-the straightinterlocking portion of a cooperating interlockin member.

9. A locking member or a separable fastener comprising means forsecuring the same to a tape, an inclined projection on one side of saidmember, and a largerprojection receiving recess having substantiallyvertical walls on the opposite side of said member in substantialalignment'with said projection.

10. A separaole fastener comprising a pair of stringers provided withsimilar cooperating interlocking members each .having a projectionstruck up on one side and a larger projection receiving recess formed onthe opposite side in substantial alignment with said projection, thesides of said projection and recess being non-parallel and proportionedto permit said projectionto contact with only a portion of the recesswith which itcooperates.

11. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers provided withsimilar cooperating interlocking members each having a projection struck,up on one side and a larger projection receivmg'recess formed on theopposite side in substantial alignment with said projection, the sidesof said projection and recess being relatively inclined and' proof saidvmember around said projection bematerial each having a projection onone side and a projection receiving recess on the opposite side well infrom the ed es thereof,

compose of flat material each provided with transversely elongatedinterlocking portions on opposite sides of the member, the sides of oneinterlocking portion of each member be-. ing inclined with respect tothe sides of the other interlocking portion thereof to provide a 'lineor spot contact between cooperating interlocking members.

14. A separable fastener comprising a pair of flexible stringers eachcarrying a series of spaced locking members, a locking member of oneseries cooperating with a locking member of the opposite series to forman interlocking pair, each locking member of each series being providedwith means for rigidly attaching it to the edge of its stringer andhaving a free end ada ted to overlap the free end of the other ockingmember of the interlocking pair, a projection adjacent the free end ofeach locking member, and a recess adjacent the free end of each lockingmember in alignment with the projection thereof and substantially largerthan said projection to receive the "projection of the other lockingmember of the interlocking pair, the recess and projection of eachinterlocking pair being relatively inclined to permit. an edge of one toengage asurface of the other in locking and unlocking and in lateralflexing.

15. A locking member for a separable fastener comprising means for.securing the same to a tape, a projection set transversely inward of theedgesv of said member, the surface of said member transversely on eachsideof said projection sloping slightly away from said projection. I

16. A locking member for a separable fastener comprising means forsecuring the same to a tape, aprojection set inwardly from all edges ofsaid member, the surface ing transversely rounded to raise the height ofthe surface around said projection above the side edges. ofsaid member.17. A sheet metal locking member for. a

separable fastener comprising clamping jaws for attachment to a tape,one side, well in from the edges t reof, -an

.. aligned recessv on the opposite side of said member also spaced fromthe side edges and substantially wider thansversely than said.

a pro action on projection to permit rocking of the projection ofanother locking member therein, the

surface between said projection and theside f edges of said membersloping gradually tion extending away from said flex1ble stringer androunded transversely to facilitate transverse rocking on a continuouslocking member. f

19. A separable fastener comprlsin a pair of stringers having cordededges, an a plurality of interlocking membersmounted on said stringersand each having an e ongated endthe major portion of which is adaptedtocontact with the'corded edge of the opposite stringer to restrain saidinterlocking members against pivoting on each other out of the planeofsaid stringers when the fastener is closed. v e

20. A separable fastener comprisin a air of stringers having cooperatinginter 00 'ng members composed of flat material having an interlockingportion set inwardly from the edges thereof, and a sloping surfaceadjacent and surrounding .said interlocking portion on at least twosides thereof to facilitate sliding on a cooperating interlockingmember.

- 21.'A separable fastener locking member comprising a flat st ip ofmaterial transversely bent in the mddle having ends .provided withcompressible clamping jaws and having a projection adjacent the bend onone side and a recess adjacent the bend on the other side.

22. A separable fastener locking member comprising a flat strip ofmaterial bent double having parallel ends provided with compressibleclamping jaws and having a projection adjacent the bend on one side anda recess adjacent the bend. on the other side.

23. A locking member for a slide type fastener" comprising a strip ofmaterial shaped to provide pairs of clamping jaws,

a projection adjacent one pair of jaws. a

shaped to provide spaced pairs of jaws for clamplng the member to atape. a projection adjacent one pair and a recess adjacent the otherpair, a bridging element connecting said pairs, and slider guiding meansbent to lie substantially parallel with the edge of said tape. v V

4 25. A locking member. for a slide type fastener provided with aninterlocking recess and projection and spaced tapegripping portionshaving an intervening recess between themlongitudinally of the tape tormit'a'bulge in the tape in said recess I between said grippingportions.

j ection, and tape means or securing said member to a tape.

provide pairs of jaws for clamping 26. A locking member for a slide typefastener provided with compressible jaws adapted to be secured to a'tapeand having the ends of said jaws extended and bent to lie along the tapein adirection substantially transverse to the plane of the jaws.

27. A locking member for a slide type fastener formed of a strip ofmaterial bent to form spaced portions and having a projection in oneportion, a recess in another portion of said strip spaced from saidprogripping means in yet another portion of said strip.-

28. A hollow shell locking member forv a slide type fastener comprisinga strip of metal bent to form parallel sides, a PIOjGC'. tion on oneside, a recess on the opposite side se arate from said projection, and

29. A locking member for a slide type fastenershaped to provide aprojection recess spaced transversely from the edgesof' said member, andmeans for clamping said member to a tape, the surfaces around the recessand projection being at least one of them transversely sloping slightlydown-. wardly from said projection to facilitate rocking of one lookingmember on an opposite'adjacent locking member when the fastener-isflexed.

30. A looking member for a slide type fastener shaped to provide aprojection and recess, and means for clamp ng said member to a tape, thesurfaces around the recess and pro'ection being one ofv themtransversely roun ed to facilitate rocking of one lock-' ing member onan opposite ad acent locking member when the fastener is flexed.

31. A locking member for a slide type fastener provided withcompressible jaws adapted to be secured to a stringer, a proection andrecess opposite said jaws, the surfaces of said member around saidproection and recess being at least one of them transversely andconvexly rounded to permit rocking of one looking member on an oppositeadjacent locking member when the fastener is flexed.

32. A locking member for a slide type fastener comprising a strip ofmaterialbent to the memer to a tape, a recess adjacent one pair and aprojection adjacent the other pair, a bridging element connecting saidpairs of jaws and located between the recess and projection, and sliderguiding means formed by along the tape edge.

33. A locking member for a: slide type fastener provided withcompressible jaws adapted to be secured to a tape and having an end ofeach of said jaws extended an substantially parallel to its bent to liealon the tape in a direction sub stantially para lel to its edge andbetween adjacent locking members on said tape to stiffen 'the same.

7 34. A locking member for a slide type fastener comprising spaced pairsof clamping a bridging element connecting said pairs of jaws, and aninterlocking part stamped from the material of said locking memberoutwardly of said pairs of jaws.

35,-. A locking member for a slide type fastenerlcomprising atransversely bent sheet metal strip shaped to provide spaced pairs ofclamping jaws, aibridging element connecting said jaws, a projectionbent up from the material of said member spaced outwa rdly from saidpairs of jaws, and means 1 "36. a A locking member for a slide typefastenerbent'to provide a projection and having-a recess, means forclamping said member on a tape, the surface around both the projectionand recessbeing transversely rounded to facilitate rocking of onelooking member on an opposite adjacent locking member when the fasteneris flexed.

37. A locking member for a slide type fastener shaped to provide aprojection and recess, means for clamping said member on a tape, thesurfaces around the projection and recess being at least one of themtransversgly and convexly rounded while the surface around the other istransversely concaved to facilitate rocking of one locking member ,onanopposite adjacent locking member when the fastener is flexed.

38. A locking member for a slide type fastener comprisin a'strip ofmaterial bent to rovide pairs 0 clamplng jaws, a recess adacent one anda pro'ection adjacent the other pair of jaws, an a bridging elementconnecting said pairs of jaws, t 0 projection being rounded and therecess being stamped 'out and havmg walls substantially transverse'tothe plane of the jaws.

39. A locking member for a slide type fastener comprising a flat stripof material having two spaced pairs of compressible aw members adaptedto be clamped to a tape, said strip being bent transversely to provide abridging element connecting said jaws and provided with a. pi'ifijectionadjacent one pair, a recess adjacent the other 1pair and another portionera-he strip being cut nor- -mal to the plane of the jaws to provideslider guidingmeanslyingalong the tape and extending toward an adjacentlocking member to stiffen the tape.

40. A locking member for tener comprising av strip of provide pairs ofjaws; for clamping the member to a tape, and a projection adj acenttl leother pair and a bridging element connectlng said pairs of a slide typefasmaterial bent to areces's adjacent one'pair jaws and located betweenthe recess and projection with said pairs of jaws" in the-end portionsof the strip.

41. A locking member for a slide type fas- 6 tener comprising a sheetm'etal strip bent back on itself, compressible jaws for attachment to atape having a corded edge, said locking member being relatively long inthe direction of said tape, at least one of said 10 jaws being bent toprovide a track substam' tially parallel to the corded edge of the tapeand along which a slider may travel, an interlocking part locatedoutwardly of said jaws, and means between said interlocking part andjaws for spacing the corded edge of the tape from said interlockingpart.

Signed at Bridgeport in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, this 9th day of June, A. l). 1923.

PETER A. ARONSON.

